Corsair 6 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

With the introduction of the Intel i7 Nehalemfamily of processors and the various X58 based motherboards that support it, its time to bid a fond farewell to both dual channel memory in general and DDR2 in specific. The entire i7 processor line and their X58 counterparts only support DDR3 and now triple channel is the name of the game. To make things even more interesting Intel has thrown a new internally integrated memory controller into the mix that finally brings the performance of DDR3 to a level we have been expecting to experience since it was first introduced. So are we talking some new and esoteric DDR3 version necessary to integrate with all of this new technology? Not at all, in essence it's the same DDR3 that's currently on the market with a modified SPD to lower the VDIMM requirement to 1.65 Volts which brings it more in line with both the Intel specification and the original JEDEC standard. The only other substantial difference is the DDR3 designed for the i7 based systems is sold in kits of three instead of two to facilitate the triple channel requirement.

We plan to speak much more in detail later in the review concerning the internal integrated memory controller that Intel has introduced with their Nehalembased i7 family of processors. For now suffice it to say that many consumer enthusiasts feel that this controller is several years late in its inception and follows a trend set by their competitor AMD several years ago. Whatever the rationale was for Intel's delay in this component's introduction there's no doubt that we are finally seeing memory bandwidth figures that make DDR3 much more appealing to those consumers that utilize applications that perform best with high memory throughput.

Today, we at Benchmark Reviews will be presenting our findings for the Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D memory kit which is a 6144 MB kit of 1600 MHz DDR3 SDRAM DIMMs based upon Corsair's high performance Dominator family of memory. This kit has been verified to operate at 1600MHz at latencies of 8-8-8-24 at 1.65V VDIMM. These statistics put the TR3X6G1600C8D in the mid-range of DDR3 performance statistically, but as we're all aware a number of memory modules on the market can solidly produce much higher performance figures than their ratings might allude. We plan to use a variety of tests both at stock and overclocked performance speeds to give our readers a solid overview of just what this kit has to offer.

Before moving on to the meat of our review we would be totally remiss if we didn't mention the current economy and the effect it has had on the pricing of many of the high-performance products we review. In most cases we have seen prices fall dramatically. In the case of the Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D 6 GB, triple channel DDR3 memory kit the price has plummeted to much less than half of what a similar kit would have cost just a few months previous to this. Granted times are tough but we are seeing the best bang for the buck that we have expereinced in many years with most computer components. If you are considereing a new system or perhaps an upgrade of your current system now is most certainly a good time to make the move.

About the company: Corsair

Closer Look: Corsair PC3-12800

Corsair is one of the best known manufacturers of both general consumer grade and high-end memory modules in business today. Their Dominator series of of memory modules of which the TR3X6G1600C8D memory kit is a representative sample is quite well known and in most cases easily recognizable. All of the Dominator series feature the Dual-path Heat Xchange (DHX) thermal dissipation module which surrounds each memory module and provides excellent cooling even at the highest overclocked speeds. As we discussed in the Features and Specifications section of this review the Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D memory kit utilizes the DHX+ version of the heat spreader which provides enhanced cooling options to those modders ready to take on the challenge.

The image above depicts a triple channel kit of Corsair's Dominator DDR3 memory modules along with a cooling fan for additional cooling. It is our understanding that the cooling fan is currently only shipping with kits that have speeds in excess of PC3-12800 and adds around $30-$40 to the price of the kit. For that reason our review sample did not come with the cooling fan, but on a very positive note during our testing, even at overclocked speeds we didn't find it necessary as the memory modules remained quite cool.

As you can see with the triple channel modules installed in the ASUS P6T Deluxe X58 motherboard, there is plenty of room evn considering the thicker cooling fins these module sport. The cooling fins also appear to be a bit taller, but these did not prove to be a problem with any of the processor heatsinks that we test in the system. There are certain downsides to a design like this, however. While the Corsair Dominator PC3-12800 DDR3 may run ultra-cool, it also has a larger footprint to deal with. This translates into less compatibility in compact computer builds, such as shallow HTPC systems. Then again, if you're building an HTPC with DDR3, that's going to be one powerful living room unit! Although we've never thought of memory modules as being a component in a system that would add aesthetic value to the rig, we'll have to admit these modules couple with the board's black PCB actually look quite sleek. Now if they just perform as good as they look we've got a real winner on our hands.

The new generation of DDR3 is meant to avoid a bottleneck between the CPU and the system memory; especially in highly overclocked scenarios. With the high-speed variety of DDR3 in the latest triple channel scenario, you can increase the Base Clock Rate (BCLK) with any of the i7 family or the BCLK and/or CPU multiplier with the Extreme Edition i7-965 processor without necessarily being forced to slow the system memory to remain stable.

Testing Methodology: DDR3 RAM

Before the testing really begins, there are several settings to be adjusted in the BIOS. Many combinations of the CPU's BCLK are matched to a specific memory multiplier, giving us the desired RAM (and CPU) operating speed. When high-speed DDR3 is tested, a 1:1 memory multiplier is combined with the standard BCLK to obtain baseline readings; the standard BCLK is presently 133 MHz found in Nehalem based i7 series of desktop processors. When high-speed DDR3 is tested, a memory multiplier is combined with the standard BCLK to obtain baseline readings; the standard BCLK is presently 133 MHz found in Nehalem based i7 series of desktop processors. When we begin setting the baseline parameters memory voltage and timing are always left at the manufacturer's default values, which in the case of the Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D memory kit is 1.65 Volts and 8-8-8-24. We then subject the memory to around ten passes with with MemTest86+ to assure the sample we received is not having problems to begin with.

In most cases we will then simply use the Dram for several days in every-day computing activities including several hours of gaming; this is primarily to get a feel for what the sample has to offer. After each and every change to the BIOS, the system is restarted and all RAM modules are automatically tested with MemTest86+ for one full pass. Since the modules are not yet overclocked, one pass is usually sufficient to determine if a bad part exists. Later, once we begin to overclock the memory, these tests are a good way of quickly pre-screening stable configurations. Once the test pass is complete, we move onto the synthetic benchmark tests. Here at Benchmark Reviews we use the following test suites and applications:

• SiSoft Sandra Lite v2009 SP2
• Lavalys EVEREST v4.60.1597
• Passmark Performance Test v6.01.1001
• Far Cry2

After all of the tests have been performed at the default memory clock speed, which establishes the baseline reading for our comparisons, we then increase the front side bus to overclock the RAM without adding any additional voltage or changing the memory's stock timings. Our theory is this: a module that overclocks without additional voltage or changes to its timings is going to perform better than a module which requires you to potentially damage it or void the warranty. Another way of looking at this is that if a module overclocks well without added voltage or lax timings, it is likely that there will be more headroom if addition voltage is applied.

Test System

• Motherboard: Asus P6T Deluxe OC Palm Edition with BIOS 1102
• Processor: Intel Core i7-965 BX80601965 3.2 GHz
• Processor Cooling: Noctua NH-U12P
• Graphics Card: ZOTAC GTX 260 AMP²!
• System Memory: Corsair's Dominator TR3X6G1600C8D
• Disk Drive 1: Seagate 320 GB 7200.11 SATA 2 Drive
• Disk Drive 2:Seagate Barracuda 1 TB SATA 2 Drive
• Optical Drive: ASUS DRW-2014L1T SATA Optical Drive
• Enclosure: Lian Li PC-A7010B Black Aluminum Full-Tower ATX Case
• PSU: Thermaltake W0132 Toughpower Cable Management 1000 Watt
• Monitor: Dell 24-Inch Widescreen LCD Monitor 2407FPW
• KVM Switch: ATEN CS1782 USB 2.0 DVI KVM Switch
• Operating System: Windows Vista 64-bit Ultimate SP-1 with all current updates

We at Benchmark Reviews are fully aware that many sites turn up the voltage and apply dangerous amounts of power to the modules so that they can unlock that last megahertz; but if I begin down that road where will it end? Do I then start writing reviews where I apply liquid nitrogen cooling to the RAM? Do we volt-mod the motherboard and apply so much power we ruin expensive parts and equipment? In the end, we decided that overclocking will be done at the stock voltage for benchmarks, because I believe most enthusiasts are going to aim for the same goal. If on some rare occasion I determine that adding voltage would potentially return large performance gains, then we will add up to 0.2V to the default volt rating.

In each synthetic benchmark test Windows Vista 64 was booted fresh and the application was opened. Once the system was ready, we perform a single test-run of the benchmark, followed by three recorded tests. At the end of the series, we average the three results for the final score. Sometimes it is very difficult to get broad results between the memory modules tested, so we use several different speeds of memory from participating manufacturers. Benchmark Reviews is very serious about performance, which is why we test the products against as many benchmarks as reasonably possible. Not every test suite is effective in these reviews, and some often calculate processor and other system components into the score. This is what makes a RAM review difficult: unless all of the modules compared have the exact same rating and the CPU operates at the exact same speed for each and every test, the comparison is always going to be subjective.

Test Results: TR3X6G1600C8D

Testing RAM is a subject which requires a bit of technical knowledge. We know of a few other sites that use nothing more than video games to benchmark the RAM product they are reviewing, and this whole practice made no sense to us at all. Video games are GPU and CPU dependant, and RAM has a very small impact on frame-rate performance - as we will prove to you in my own tests. So keeping all of this in mind, We use the tools that belong in a system memory review; we use system memory benchmarking applications. Additionally, we don't spend three (usually tiny) pages discussing how I overclocked or how we made it to tighter timings. Every memory module comes with its very own limit, so one size doesn't fit all and this kit may not be the same as the next.

Using the overclocking methodology that we previously described we incrementally overclocked the Corsair Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D memory kit, the first results are what we will call our 24-7 results. This simply means that this Corsair memory should easily function at these settings all the time without over-stressing any of your system's components. We found that a speed of 1764 MHz using a BCLK of 147 MHz was our best option in this stage of our overclocking. Next, we moved to finding the memory's maximum overclock. At this level, 1835 MHz, we used a BCLK of 153 MHz and the system was still 100% stable, passed all MemTest86+ tests and ran all of our benchmarks without issue. However, we began to see some slight degradation in the kit's performance at this level.

Our first results were recorded from Lavalys EVEREST using the Cache and Memory Benchmark tool. The average read, write, and copy bandwidth from EVEREST are displayed below.

Everest is among our most trusted benchmark programs, and the Cache and Benchmark tool is one of the more reliable in terms of consistent results. The chart above shows that the extra 164 MHz over the stock 1600 MHz speed amounted to a sizable increase in added bandwidth; the most notable improvement is over the 1600 MHz baseline where the the read bandwidth improved by nearly 15%. As we alluded to earlier you can see some slight degradation of the performance scores as we move to our maximum overclock of 1835 MHz.

Next up was the PassMark Performance Test benchmark which runs several different system memory tests in a row. Although some of the tests are specific to the performance of the RAM, others take the CPU clock speed and front side bus into account when developing a score. Most important are the memory read and write tests, and the score based tests are bias towards CPU speed and other hardware factors.

Passmark's Performance Test offers the most consistent memory test results of the entire group, with each of the test runs resulting in a score nearly identical to the previous test run. Ideally, all of these programs should be this consistent, but until they are we consider Performance Test to be the best tool available for testing system memory bandwidth. We only see some very slight performance decline with our maximum overclock in the Large Block test results, otherwise we see continued improvement throughout the remainder of the test results.

SiSoftware Sandra 2009 SP2 offered identical results nearly the same in regards to increased performance; according to the chart above. Although the bandwidth tests are of a different nature, the improvement of 1764 MHz over 1600 MHz still resulted in 8.25% in both the integer bandwidth and float buffered tests. At our maximum overclocked speed of 1835 MHz we can better see the performance degradation of the higher overclock which actually is below that of the memory at its stock clock speed.

Finally, we tested the Corsair DDR3-1600 6GB Dominator RAM kit in the game Far Cry 2. Realizing that games can be either CPU or GPU bound, this made it difficult for me to compare all of the memory sets since the clock speed of the processor would change as I adjust the front side bus for the desired RAM speed. In the end, a 164 MHz system memory improvement over the 1600 MHz default speed setting gave the frame rates pretty much a linear progression. We again iterate this is most likely due to the enhancements provided by overclocking the processor by raising the system's BCLK to overclock the memory. If anything the size of the memory, 6 GB, probably provided more benefit in this game than the 164 MHz overclock did. In the world of system memory benchmarks, comparing the different sets of RAM in a game is most likely pointless.

Triple-Channel Final Thoughts

With Intel's introduction of their Nehalem based i7 family of procesors and the X58 chipset for motherboards to support it memory performance no longer lags behind the competition. This is primarily due to the internal integrated memory controller that was also introduced with the i7 processors. We also have to consider that the bandwidth is now being spread across three channels as opposed to the two channel configuration that most enthusiasts garnered up until this point. In addition Corsair Dominator system memory is not going to be something system builders and casual users should purchase for vanilla systems. It's a best-of-the-best select part which allows cutting-edge overclockers and serious hardware enthusiasts to reach the system speeds that are quite outside the norm.

With many of the X58 based motherboard manufacturers configuring their products to support PC3-12800 the 1600 MHz barrier is now the norm instead of something only a few enthusiasts were able to reach when these products were first introduced. The Corsair DDR3-1600 6GB Dominator RAM kit that we reviewed today takes this product's capabilities many steps beyond that of its rated 1600 MHz by giving it almost 15% headroom to play with. Given that this performance was using stock timings and voltage we find this to be incredibly good. The memory benchmarks that we offered for comparison are the best we've seen thus far for DDR3 tailored for triple channel use at 1.65 Volts.

Probably the the biggest boon to potential consumer of this new technology is the economy. By that statement we are reiterating that its a buyer's market and products such as Corsair's TR3X6G1600C8D 6GB kit can be purchased for a fraction of what even a 2 GB kit of the same RAM would have sold for just a few months ago.

Corsair Dominator DDR3 Conclusion

Since beginning this DDR3 series, the presentation rating has been replaced with a performance score. In our system memory reviews, we offer this score to represent the overclocking potential and memory timing capability of the product reviewed. The Corsair Dominator 1600MHz DDR3 RAM Kit successfully overclocked to a stable 1835 MHz for an almost 15% increase while maintaining CL8-8-8-24 timings and 1.65 volts. This performance is excellent for this product and given more manipulation of the timings and voltage, there's no telling exactly how good the performance will get.

Moving on to the appearance rating, I doubt that there was much room for improvement with the new and seemingly flawless Dual-path Heat Xchange Plus (DHX+) Technology. Certainly a polished mirror-finish would make it look better, but it would also detract from the cooling performance that a flat black finish offers. Adding a chrome finish would only help the module retain head, so in reality this module looks as good as it possibly can while still being ultra-functional.

With regard to product construction, Corsair's DDR3 Dominator TR3X6G1600C8D kit offers an excellent level of durability thanks to an even thicker the heat spreader covering both sides. The countersunk screws sandwich the PCB very tightly and create a strong bond between the RAM modules and heat spreader, but with sharp edges you can still bend something if you're not careful. This kit could survive harsh abuse, but we still recommend you handle with care.

At this particular point in time the Corsair Dominator PC3-12800 DDR3 1600MHz 6GB RAM offers one of the fastest tri channel kits currently available both in rating and real world performance. Add in the additional overclock for a total of 1835 MHz, and we have ourselves a new champion with a perfect 10 functionality rating. In all honesty, DDR3 doesn't need excessive cooling due to the reduced DIMM voltage. So leave we're glad to see that Corsair has saved the consumer a bit of change with this kit by not including their Dominator Airflow fan.

DDR3 pricing in general and the new tri-channel kits in specific are priced at an all-time low . Since this product has just launched, pricing has plummeted from an MSRP of just over $300 which in itself was an excellent price. At the time of this writing, the Corsair Dominator TR3X6G1600C8D kit is currently available from NewEgg.com for $224. Granted, that price includes an instant $25.00 savings, but its still considerably cheaper than we would have ever thought DDR3 would be for a number of years.

In conclusion, the Corsair Dominator PC3-12800DDR3 1600MHz 6GB RAM Kit offers unmatched performance and offers the best system overclocking speeds available. As the demand for tri-channel DDR3 kits grow in number these modules will be in high demand by the masses, and they will certainly reward those who purchase them. These Dominator DDR3 modules are critical for pushing the rest of your system well beyond the manufacturer's intended specifications. This kit comes highly recommended from Benchmark Reviews.

Pros:

+ Offers extremely high CPU overclocking potential
+ 1600MHz of guaranteed available bandwidth
+ DDR3 overclocks to 1835 MHz
+ Solid CL8-8-8-24 memory timings at 1.65 Volts
+ Tri-channel functionality provides excellent bandwidth
+ Dual-path Heat Xchange Plus (DHX+) Technology
+ Very cool running DIMM's at 1.65V
+ Lifetime Product Warranty

Cons:

- Slight performance degradation at maximum overclocked speeds
- Tall profile means incompatible fit on low profile systems

Ratings:

• Performance: 9.75
• Appearance: 9.50
• Construction: 9.50
• Functionality: 9.75
• Value: 9.50

Final Score: 9.6 out of 10.

Excellence Achievement: Benchmark Reviews Golden Tachometer Award.

Questions? Comments? Benchmark Reviews really wants your feedback. We invite you to leave your remarks in our Discussion Forum.

Related Articles:

• 2500MHz Patriot Viper-II Sector-5 DDR3 Kit
• Patriot Viper-II DDR3 Lynnfield Memory Kit
• 12GB Corsair Dominator 1600MHz DDR3 Memory Kit
• ASUS P5K3 Deluxe Wi-Fi-AP Intel P35 Motherboard
• Winchip PC3-10666 DDR3 1333MHz 64A0TRHN8G17E
• Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 Motherboard
• G.Skill ECO 4GB DDR3 Memory Kit F310666CL7D
• Crucial PC3-12800 DDR3 1600MHz BL2KIT12864BA1608
• Super Talent PC3-14400 DDR3 1800MHz W1800UX2GP
• Corsair Vengeance LP 16GB DDR3-1600